Church to government: Stay away from foreign influence

Kampala- Church leaders have urged political leaders to promote peace in the country and urgently work to fix the rising governance shortfalls as well as stem increasing negative foreign influences.

While delivering the Christmas messages, the clerics also castigated the perpetrators of various acts against humanity and urged believers to use Jesus’ birth to renounce evil for the good of the society.

They identified major evils to include corruption, prostitution, murders, terrorism, conflicts, and hatred at work, mistrust, self-centredness, greed, unemployment, teenage pregnancies, forced marriages and incest.

The Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, Rev Stanley Ntagali, blamed the vices on people who are “coming with money to confuse others to dissociate from God using the world’s passions.”

He told Christians at All Saints Church in Nakasero that the vices have made people to forget their cultural heritage and lose self-control hence fail to become better citizens.

“Homes are becoming battle fields,” he said, adding: “Uganda has a high rate of human trafficking because children are being promised jobs and boys end up being sodomised.”

The archbishop tasked the government to amend the laws regarding adoption of children “because research has shown that our children are being taken and we do not know where they are being taken.”
At St Paul’s Cathedral, Namirembe, Bishop Wilberforce Kityo Luwalira warned believers against working contrary to God’s guidance.

“If Jesus is here, you cannot do to the contrary. We can be able to fight domestic violence, corruption, murders and other vices because of Jesus’ presence,” said the bishop.

He described Jesus as a solution to the country’s woes. “The coming of Jesus is good news that is needed by politicians, people in business, families, doctors and everyone else needs if this country is to attain peace,” he said.

Lwanga says
The Archbishop of Kampala, Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga, asked believers at the Rubaga Cathedral to promote peace within themselves, families and their neighbours for a harmonious country.

He warned leaders against what he called “hidden agenda” of many development partners with their aid to Uganda and other developing countries.
“Our leaders should focus on deeper analysis of issues that they deliberate on during international conferences because some of these tend to come up with policies that have ill intentions against our cultures and beliefs,” he said.

In Entebbe, Rev Can Jonathan Kisawuzi told believers at Entebbe Parish to desist from viewing Christmas as a holiday for just merrymaking but rather celebrate it as a holy day to renew their hearts.

Prophet Samuel Kakande of the Synagogue Church of All Nations, Mulago, asked believers to use Jesus’ birth as a gift for the good of their lives.
“This is a restoration of peoples’ lives and a blessing. It is time for all to reflect on everyone’s challenges so that the power of God can work in their lives,” Prophet Kakande said.

At Rubaga Miracle Centre, Pastor Robert Kayanja asked believers to use the Christmas season as a period for thanksgiving, charity offerings and gospel extension.
“Ugandans must empower ourselves and get ready to grow more food to be able to sustain our population within and outside borders, because without food people will be dying and yet we have the capacity to feed them,” he said.

Mbale
In Mbale, religious leaders at various churches urged political leaders to seek God, repent and renew fellowship with God with a new purpose to save the country from God’s wrath.

At St Andrew’s Cathedral, the Bishop of Mbale Diocese Rev, Patrick Gidudu said whereas Uganda has witnessed a lot of money being paid to ghost civil servants, high levels of corruption, child sacrifice, murders, defilement, homosexuality, political intolerance, it basically shows that moral decadence was high.

“Strive to be a blessing to Uganda at Christmas as leaders, take a resolution to ask yourselves; how have we moved, in the right direction or in the wrong one? And how much more should I contribute to my spiritual life, my morals? How should I live until the next Christmas to give Uganda a fresh start,” said Rev Gidudu.

The Word of Faith Fellowship ministries Bishop Andrew Mutengu said it was high time the leaders led the country by example to repent, “seek God, strive for forgiveness and renew your spiritual lives in order to create peace for Uganda,”.

He attributed the rampant corruption, political intolerance, child sacrifice, support of homosexuality and abuse of human rights in Uganda, to moral decadence.

Pastor Gregory Masaba of Christ Worshipers said the birth of Jesus Christ is calling for repentance and re-seeking God in order to have a better country for all Ugandans.

The Wake up Ministries Pastor, Mr Martin Nangoli, urged Christians and leaders in the country to seek God and hold onto to Jesus as the sure way for their salvation and that of our own country.

CHRISTMAS PEACEFUL SAYS POLICE

The police have said the country has had a largely peaceful Christmas season with only a few incidents of crime registered across the country.

Police spokesperson Fred Enanga told the Saturday Monitor yesterday that although there was a general increase in activity and traffic flow in the country, few criminal incidents have been registered compared to previous festive seasons.

“Having only two murders and six fatal accidents across the country is something minor, given the increased traffic flow and activities; you would say we have had largely peaceful Christmas,” Mr Enanga said.

According to police, there were two targeted murders and six fatal road accidents that claimed about seven lives on Christmas Day.

“Even in Kampala metropolitan where the rate of crime is always high during Christmas, we haven’t registered any serious incidents and we are maintaining police visibility to ensure this continues,” Mr Enanga said.

Reported by E. Kasozi, I Ladu, A. Tumwine, S. Kafeero, F. Mukisa, S. Otage, F. Musisi, David Mafabi, Yahudi Kitunzi & Fred Wambedde

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